He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke 22:36
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You’re wrong brother. Look at the next verse ...
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, “AND HE WAS RECKONED AMONG THE TRANSGRESSORS:” for the things concerning me have an end.
Luke 22:37
“HE” is Jesus, and the “transgressors” are the confused disciples taking up swords.
You want to count yourself as a confused disciple? Take up your gun.
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for ALL they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matthew 26:52
“ALL” includes you, even when you mis-quote Luke 22:36 to justify your violence, despite it’s plain interpretation in Luke 22:37.
I do not believe that God expects his follows to be SHEEP and allow themselves to be lead to the slaughter.
The bible has just as many stories of heroes that God looked on with favor who took up the sword to defend the faithful as it has of martyrs.
I’ve said it before and I say it once more:
Better the daeth of Masada than the death of Dachau.
You’re quite wrong, here. Living by the sword and owning one and even using one are different things.
Jesus instructed his Apostles to buy swords for their self-defense but then admonished them not to ‘live by’ the sword - meaning that they should not become men of violence. This was in a day and age when professional soldiers were seen as little more than mercenaries for the simple reason that most soldiers were, indeed, mercenaries.
Applying that quote to Mr. Kyle was inappropriate in that Mr. Kyle was a retired soldier who was not engaged in warfare at the time of his death.
It’s akin to condeming a race car driver for his racing career when he gets run over by an SUV in a parking lot.